MANCHESTER, N.H. —
A controversial group known as Predator Poachers conducted undercover stings in two New Hampshire communities this week, confronting men the group says it believes were trying to meet underage teens.
Alex Rosen said the group poses online as children and then confronts adults who show up expecting to meet them.
Rosen said his group confronted two men this week, one in Dover and another in Lancaster. He said police in both communities seized the men’s phones but did not immediately make arrests.
“They had more than enough evidence to make that arrest on scene,” Rosen said. “And it’s a massive public safety issue when they let these literal molesters of 5-year-old kids walk free.”
Lancaster police Chief Jonathan Woodworth said officers seized the suspect’s cellphone and obtained a search warrant.
In a statement posted on Facebook, Woodworth explained in detail the depth needed in investigations of potential child predators before arrests or prosecutions.
Dover police Capt. Mark Nadeau, meanwhile, said they couldn’t discuss specifics of the investigation, but he said the department is focused on building a case that can make it through the entire prosecution process.
“That means reviewing all the evidence that exists, verifying its authenticity, how it relates to the investigation to determine if a crime occurred,” Nadeau said.
Dover police are an affiliate of the New Hampshire Internet Crimes Against Children Task Force, which provides investigators with additional resources, training and best practices for these types of cases.
Rosen said Predator Poachers plans to return to New Hampshire.
